World Muslims slam Tehran for Haj politics, back Riyadh

STRASBOURG: Muslims across the world support the Kingdom and condemn Iran for its interference in the Middle East, according to Abdullah bin Abdulmohsen Al-Turki, secretary-general of the Muslim World League.
Al-Turki slammed Iran for refusing to sign the Haj agreement, saying that all countries had to do so for legal reasons, to protect both sides. This was the requirement of the Kingdom and it was not right for Iran to dispute this.
Al-Turki praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for supporting Muslims across the world with aid, including building mosques, according to SPA following the conference on “Muslim Youth in the Face of Terrorism.”
Meanwhile, the Council of Senior Scholars of Azhar University condemned Iran for attempts to politicize Haj. Tehran’s refusal to sign the Haj agreement showed it wanted to disrupt the event, said Abbas Shouman, undersecretary of Azhar University and secretary general of the council.
He said it was time for Arab and Muslim countries to stand united against the conspiracies of Iran, and added that the Kingdom has the sovereign right to regulate Haj arrangements.
Former Egyptian minister of endowments and member of the Council of Senior Scholars Mahmoud Hamdi Zagzoug said Teheran was to blame for its citizens not being able to perform Haj this year.
Abdulshafi Mohammed Abdulatif, a member of the council, said every year Iran attempts to disrupt Haj, and that it was intent on sowing divisions and discord.
Ahmed Ajeebah, secretary-general of the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs, said Iran did not have the right to politicize Haj. “The Saudi authorities have the right to deter any attempts to disrupt Haj because any abuse in the land of the Two Holy Mosques is abuse of Islam and Muslims,” he said.
Mohammed Rafat Osman, another member of the council, said all Muslims support the Kingdom and know that it has been working to ensure a safe pilgrimage. Former head of the Fatwa Committee at Azhar University Sheikh Ali Abu Al-Hasan said it was not permissible to use Haj for political ends.